# THE TOTAL RECALL PINBALL MACHINE THAT ALMOST WAS

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2022-01-31  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/the-total-recall-pinball-machine-that-almost-was

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## Analysis

An article documenting a never-produced Data East Total Recall pinball machine from the 1990s. The prototype was designed with original hand-drawn playfield art and featured a two-headed monster design, but was apparently discarded and lost after being last seen at the 1998 Chicago Pinball Expo. Planetary Pinball previously published images of the artwork on its website.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Data East produced a prototype Total Recall pinball machine that was never manufactured for sale — _Article presents photographic evidence of playfield and describes the prototype as 'never produced'_
- [MEDIUM] The Total Recall prototype was last seen at the Chicago Pinball Expo in 1998 — _Author states 'The last time that it was seen was at the Chicago Pinball Expo back in 1998' but does not provide source attribution_
- [HIGH] Planetary Pinball owns the rights to manufacture, sell and distribute Bally Williams pinball parts — _Opening sentence establishes Planetary Pinball's business scope, consistent with known entity definition_
- [MEDIUM] The Total Recall prototype was discarded and lost forever — _Author speculates 'the prototype game seems to have been discarded in the trash and lost forever' based on lack of subsequent sightings_
- [HIGH] Planetary Pinball previously published original Data East hand-drawn playfield art on its website in a since-deleted blog post — _Author directly references viewing the images approximately four years prior to writing_

### Notable Quotes

> "The Total Recall art is fantastic."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Establishes the author's motivation for investigating the unreleased game_

> "A two-headed monster! Too bad they never made the game."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Describes the distinctive design feature of the prototype and expresses regret about its non-release_

> "In fact, the prototype game seems to have been discarded in the trash and lost forever."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _States the likely fate of the prototype based on lack of subsequent sightings_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Data East | company | Historic pinball manufacturer that designed the unreleased Total Recall prototype in the 1990s |
| Planetary Pinball | company | Company that owns rights to Bally Williams pinball parts and previously published archival playfield art including the Total Recall design |
| Total Recall | game | Unreleased Data East pinball machine prototype featuring two-headed monster playfield design, last seen at 1998 Chicago Pinball Expo |
| Chicago Pinball Expo | event | Major pinball industry event where the Total Recall prototype was last publicly documented in 1998 |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Source publication documenting pinball history and unreleased game designs |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Unreleased/prototype pinball machines, Data East pinball history
- **Secondary:** Pinball licensing and IP rights, Playfield art and design, Pinball archival and preservation

### Sentiment

**Nostalgic_regretful** (0.2) — Author expresses appreciation for the lost prototype's design while lamenting its disappearance and permanent loss. Tone is wistful and investigative rather than negative toward any party.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Knapp Arcade engaged in historical research and archival documentation of unreleased pinball designs, demonstrating active community interest in preserving pinball history (confidence: high) — Author conducted investigation to track down details about the Total Recall prototype based on archival images and compiled findings into public article
- **[licensing_signal]** Planetary Pinball maintains archival collection of original playfield artwork and design documentation from classic manufacturers including Data East (confidence: high) — Article references Planetary Pinball's blog post containing 'pictures of a treasure trove of original hand-drawn playfield art' including the Total Recall design

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## Transcript

Four years ago, Planetary Pinball, a company that owns the rights to manufacture, sell and distribute Bally Williams pinball parts, wrote a since deleted blog post on its website that contained pictures of a treasure trove of original hand-drawn playfield art. One particular item that caught my eye was the art for a never produced Data East Total Recall pinball machine.

The Total Recall art is fantastic. After seeing it, I was motivated to see what I could find out about this never produced game. I managed to find a photo of the playfield. Check this thing out!

A two-headed monster! Too bad they never made the game. In fact, the prototype game seems to have been discarded in the trash and lost forever. The last time that it was seen was at the Chicago Pinball Expo back in 1998.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: b8a6bdd2-720e-4131-a313-0931ef00a7dd*